Resilient wheel.



1. PRONOVOST.

RESILIENT WHEEL. APPLICATION msn rss.s,1915.

@Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

@trouw/ig J. PRONOVOST.

RESILIENT WHEEL.v

APPLICATION FILED FEB. s. |915.-

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Mar. 27

bliozmg JOSEPH PRONOVOST, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO PRONOVOST TORSION SPRING WHEEL COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF ltIICHIGrAN.y

RESILIENT WHEEL.

Specigcaton of Letters Patent.

Application mea February e, 1915. serial No. 6,532.

a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and;

figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in resilient wheels and it has for its object among others to provide an improved form of wheel designed for all the uses to which resilient wheels are or may be applicable, and in which provision is made not only for resilient compensation for increase of load and to absorb the vibration, but also to take up the strain incident to a sudden starting up of the engine or vehicle. f

I aim further at improvements in the details of construction whereby the wheel is rendered capable Aof manufacture at a minimum cost and made more efficient in use.

@ther objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention in its preferred forms is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, with the numerals of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved wheel looking at one side thereof with portions broken away and a part in section.

Fig. 2 is a view of the opposite side of the wheel with portions broken away and the outer rim and spokes removed.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a detail face view of one of the spring supporting members.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through Fig. 4 on the line 5-5 thereof, looking in the direction of the arrow, and Fig. 6 is a sectional View on line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by numeral, 1 designates the hub and 2 the bore or openingtherein for the axle. 3, 3 are plates, annular in form, sccured to opposite sides ofthe hub in any suitable manner, as for instance by means of the collar plate 4, the flange 5 and the bolts 6 provided with nuts 7, as seen best in Fig. 3.

8 is a disk with a circumferential flange and is secured to the hub. 9 is aninner rim to which may be secured spokes 10 of any suitable character, connecting the same with the outer rim 11 to which may be applied a tire 12 of cushion or an ,other preferred character. Within this rlm or band 9 is a band 13 provided with lugs 14, as seen clearly in Fig. 3, said lugs having openings to receive the bolts 15 for a purpose soon to be described. These bolts pass through and serve to retain in position the three an nular disks 16, 17 (which latter is iianged) and -18 (see Fig. 3), which placed in conjunction with the circular or annular plates 3 form annular pockets for the spring mechanism to be described and allow for radial motion of the hub and rim divisions of the wheel.

Referring to Fig. 1 and to the right hand portion of Fig. 3, the spring mechanism will now be described. As each spring and its coperating elements are alike through out the wheel upon this side thereof, a particular description of one will suffice for all. As seen in Fig. 1, one of these springs is preferably arranged in line with each spoke 10. Specifically,'each spring device comprises an elongated, U-shaped, member 19, the bend 20 of which is loosely engaged over a bolt 6, previously referred to, and a member 21, the bend or loop 22 of which loosely receives a bolt 15, as seen in Figs. 1, 3, fl and 5. These members 19 and 21 are endwise movablewith relation to each other, the end members of the part 21 being slidably guided between the iianges 23 of the member 19, as seen clearly in Fig. e, and the overlapped portions of the two members are provided with longitudinal slots 24, as seen in Figs. 3, t and 5.' As seen in Figs. 4 and 5, the free ends of the members 21 are bent upon themselves to form stops 25 to limit the movement of said parts in one direction.

Passed vertically through the slots 24 in the two members is a bar or the like 2G, the ends of which extend through the slots and are provided With removable fastenings, such as`cotter pins 27 serving to permit of removal When necessary. The said ends of the bar 26 are designed to guide the stop members 25, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, to limit the movement of the two parts 4in one direction. V The main portion of this member 26 is laterally enlarged and provided with al screuTV threaded `opening constituting a nut as seen at 28. threaded into said nut and the other end thereof threaded into the adjacent member 30 of a clamp member 31, formed with a hook or the like 32, which receives the transverseY member 33 of a double torsion spring 34 which may assume any desired form,

' being provided with any desired number of coils 35 intermediate its ends, which are formed into interlocking hooks V436, each of which has bearing against the angled end 37V of the member 19, as shown clearly in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

. their normal position.

The spring devices'above described are arranged Within the Wheel, as shown in Fig. 1, and as therein illustrated they lare in The. members 19 and 21 expand or contract, according to the circumstances. Vhen under load, the said members and springson the under side of thev axle are compressed and thus consequently expand. This expansion and compression ,is automatic and varies under different conditions. The greater the load, the greater the compression and all shock is absorbed'thereby, making it a most efficient Wheel. The number of springs may be variedand the size or torsional strength thereof may be made proportionate to the load for YWhich the Wheel is designed. It will be noted that the spring devices hereinbefore describedconnect the hub and rim divisions or portions of the Wheel, vet allow of the rrequisite resilient movement to effect the With coils 43 and these springs are arrangedV andact in a similar manner as the springs 34 before described. The other ends of the slidable members 41 are loosely engaged over the pins 15, as seen in 2, and thesprings are put under compression and expand in a similar maner. Any desired Vnumber of these sets of springs may be employed in accordance With the size and desired capacityofthe Wheel.

29 is an adjusting screw` By this arrangement of spring devices, should the engine or vehicle be started suddenly, the hub vvill turn with relation to the rim so as to compensate for the sudden strain and in order to limit the spring action of the Wheel so as to prevent injury or undue strain being put on the spring devices, as Well as to prevent the contact of meta-l With metal and thus avoid noise, I provide elastic bumpers 44, as seen in Fig. 2, Which are secured to the rim 9 by any suitable means, as for instance rivets or thelike 45, Iindicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. 46 is an annular plate acting in conjunction With the outer plate 17 and tightly held against it by means of springs 4T mounted upon the pins 39 (see Fig. 3) this plate being designed to exclude dust and dirt from the interior of the Wheel.

48 is a dished plate fastened to the rim ofthe Wheel in any suitable manner, as by the bolts 15, anddesigned to keep out the dust as Well as to provide an outside finish of the Wheel. It may be provided vvith a false ornamental nut or the like 49, as seen in Fig. 3. 50 designates strap striking plates secured to the plate 3 by the same pins 39 which carry the springs 47 in any suitable manner and designed to strike the rubber or elastic bumpers 51 secured to the rim 9, as seen in Fig. 2.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised a simple and efficient, durable resilient Wheel and, while the structural embodiment of the same as hereinbefore disclosed is what I, at the present time, consider preferable, it is evident that the same is subject to changes, variations in construction, proportional parts, etc., Without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages. I, therefore, do not intend to limit myself to the particular construction hereinbefore described, but reserve the right to make such changes, variations and modifications as come properly Within the scope of the protection prayed.

What I claim to be new is 1. A resilient Wheel having a hollow hub with circumferential fiange, a plate fitted over said hub, bolts passing through registering apertures in said iiange and plate, annular disks about the hub, bolts passing through said disks near their outer edges, spring-pressed members arranged radially in pairs upon one side of the Wheel and movable in opposite directions, corresponding ends of the inner parts of said members being bent andengaged by the bolts Which pass through said flange of the hub and the outer parts of the said members being bent and engaging the bolts which connect said disks, slotted lugs upon the other side of the wheel, a flanged disk about said slotted lugs, other reverse, springpressed members arranged in pairs, the adjacent bent ends of one of' each being connected to said slotted lugs and the other member of each pair fastened to said flanged disk, a buder member secured to the ange oi' the disk opposite said slotted lugs, and rims connected by spokes about said disks.

2. A resilient Wheel having a hollow hub With circumferential flange, a plate tted Vver said hub, bolts passing through registering apertures in said flange and plate, annular disks about the hub, bolts passing through said disks near their outerI ends, spring-pressed members having sliding movements in opposite directions relative to each other and arranged radially in pairs upon one side of the Wheel, the opposite edges of one pair of each of said members having flanges adapted to guide the other member of each pair, adjustable means for limiting the relative movements of the members, corresponding ends of the inner parts of said members being bent and engaged by the bolts which pass through said flange of the hub and the outer parts of the said members being bent and engaging the bolts which connect said disks, slotted lugs upon the other side of the Wheel, a flanged disk about said slotted lugs, other reverse, spring-pressed members arranged in pairs, the adjacent bent ends of one of each being connected to said slotted lugs and the other member of each pair fastened to said flanged disk, a bu'er member secured to the flange of the disk opposite said slotted lugs, and rims connected by spokes about said disks.

3. A resilient Wheel having a hollow hub with circumferential flange, a plate fitted over said hub, bolts passing through registering apertures in said flange and plate, annular disks about the hub, bolts passing through said disks near their outer ends, members having sliding movements in opposite directions relative to each other and arranged radially in pairs upon one side of the Wheel, the opposite edges of one pair of each of said members having flanges adapted to guide the other member of each pair, said members having oppositely disposed registering slots, a bar extending through said slots -and having a threaded aperture, the ends of one member of each pair being bent upon itself and adapted to engage said bent ends, an adjustable screvv mounted in each of said threaded apertures, a clamp member engaged by each screw, springs, each bearing intermediate a clamp member and a bent end of each of said members, adjustable means for limiting the relative movements of the members, corresponding ends of the inner bent portions of said members being engaged by the bolts Which pass through said flange of the hub and the outer bent portions of the said members engaging the bolts Which connect said disks, slotted lugs upon the other side of the Wheel, a flanged disk about said slotted lugs, other reverse, spring-pressed members arranged in pairs, the adjacent bent ends of u,

arranged radially in pairs upon one side .l

of the Wheel, the opposite edges of each pair of one of said members having flanges adapted to guide the other member of each u pair, said members having oppositely disn posed registering slots, a bar extending through said slots and having a threaded aperture, the ends of one member of each pair being bent upon itself and adapted to engage said bent ends, an adjusting screw mounted in each of' said threaded apertures, a clamp member engaged by each screw, springs, each bent at its longitudinal center and engaging said clamp member, each arm of the spring bent into a coil, the ends of the springs interlocking and bearing against an angled end of one of said members, adjustable means for limiting the relative movements of the members, corresponding ends of the inner bent portions of said members being engaged by the bolts Which pass through said flange of the hub and the other bent portions of the said members engaging the bolts Which connect said disks, slotted lugs upon the other side of the Wheel, a flanged disk about said slotted lugs, other reverse, spring-pressed members arranged in pairs, the adjacent bent ends of one of each being connected to said slotted lugs and the other member of each pair fastened to said flanged disk, a buffer member secured to the flange of the disk opposite said slotted lugs, and rims connected by spokes about said disks.

5. A resilient Wheel having a hollow hub With circumferential flange, a plate fitted over said hub, bolts passing through registering apertures in said flange and plate, annular disks about the hub, bolts passing through said disks near their outer ends, spring-pressed members having sliding movements in opposite directions relative to each other and arranged radially in pairs upon one side of the Wheel, corresponding ends of the inner bent portions of said members being engaged by the bolts which pass through said flange of the hub and the 'other bent portions of the said members engaging the bolts which connect said disks, slotted lugs upon the other side of the wheel, a 5 flanged disk about said slotted lugs, other reverse, spring-pressed members arranged in pairs, the adjacent bent ends of one of eaoh being connected to said slotted lugs and the other member of each pair fastened to 10 said flanged disk, striking plates secured t0 the disk to which said slotted lugs are fastened, bulier members secured to the flanged disk opposite said striking plate, and rims connected by spokes about said disks.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiix my 15 signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH PRONOVOST. Witnesses:

GEORGE R. COMMON, B. E. A. LAITNER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for live cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents. Washington, D. C. 

